Although pesticides can be beneficial to society, they can also pose risks to human health and the environment if improperly handled. The risk to human health can come from a number of sources: direct exposure through improper use, residual pesticides on food and release into the environment from improper storage or disposal. Children are particularly susceptible to pesticide exposure. The effects of exposure to pesticides include poisoning, eye damage, disruption of the endocrine system, and respiratory ailments. The EPA conducts extensive research to determine the health risks from pesticides and regulates the production, application and labeling of these substances.

Recommended EPA Web pages

• Pesticides: Environmental Effects
  Provides information about the environmental effects of pesticides.
• Pesticides: Environmental Effects: Environmental Databases
  Information about environmental databases used to assess hazards to the environment and to wildlife, aquatic organisms, and plants
• Pesticides: Topical & Chemical Fact Sheets
  Collection of fact sheets contains general and chemical-specific information.

Pest Management
Crop Protection, Integrated Pest Management (IPM), State Management Plan

Pesticide Effects
Animal Safety, Child Safety, Food Safety, Health Effects, Pesticide Spills, Risk Assessment

Pesticide Legal Aspects
Compliance, Enforcement, Guidance, Labeling, Legislation, Public Comment, Regulations, Reporting

Pesticide Monitoring
Models, Residues, Test Methods

Pesticide Types
Antimicrobial Pesticides, Biopesticides, Disinfectants and Sanitizers, Insecticides, Rodenticides